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As the year-end approaches, statistics on crime are coming out. Los Angeles' murder rate topped 300 over the weekend, according to the Daily News, but that was still over 60 murders less than last year. Overall, L.A. County has seen a drop in crime throughout. Areas patrolled by Sheriff's Deputies saw the murder rate go down by 23 percent compared to last year.
In Los Angeles, all crime categories has gone down with murder as the runner up. Grand Theft Auto has decreased by 19.2 percent, as of last Saturday, according to the latest LAPD COMPSTAT report. In 2008, there were 21,707 grand theft auto cases--2009 has seen 17,539.
The LA Weekly says the great tend in crime drops will be a challenge for new LAPD Chief Charlie Beck. "For Beck, taking over with these numbers would be somewhat like taking over the coaching job at the Los Angeles Lakers after Phil Jackson's reign," wrote blogger Dennis Romero. "With continuing joblessness, a city struggling to find money to hire officers, and a looming release of 40,000 state prisoners, the only direction for crime [in 2010] might be up."
